Jan. 19, 2015

Charles W. Harris Sr.
Charles Wesley Harris Sr., 79, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Sunday morning (Jan. 18, 2015) at his residence after an extended illness.
He was born in Ware County to the late Alvie H. and Maggie Taylor Harris. He lived in Jacksonville most of his life and retired as a welder from the Jacksonville Shipyards. He always enjoyed mud bogging.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife of 51 years, Evelyn Godwin Harris, two sons, Alvie J. Harris and Charles E. Harris Sr., two brothers, John Allen Harris (wife, Emmie) and Eldridge Harris, one brother-in-law, Robert Varnadore, and three sisters.
Survivors include seven children, Cathy Moore (husband, Robert), of Jacksonville, Brenda Bell (husband, Ricky), of Waycross, Charleen Bailey (husband, Kevin), of Jacksonville, Charles W. Harris Jr., of Jacksonville, Christopher Harris (wife, Royale), of Jacksonville, Carl Harris (wife, Jessica), of Jacksonville, Tabitha Clayton (husband, Tommy), of Callahan, Fla.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Sandra Harris, of Jacksonville; one sister, Pearl Varnadore, of Jacksonville; one sister-in-law, Marie Harris, of Hazlehurst; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Waresboro Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Wesley D. Woodard
Wesley Dalton “Wes” Woodard, 32, died from health complications Friday (Jan.16, 2015) at his residence in Jamestown.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Waycross and was a member of Jamestown Baptist Church. He was a former electrician with Ware Electric and S.E.C. Contractors and a former employee of Ware State Prison. He was also a former member of Twin Oaks Hunting Club.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Parnell and Evangeline King.
He is survived by his two sons, Mattox Ashton Woodard and Myles Cohen Woodard, both of Waycross; the love of his life, Mackenzie Woodard, of Waycross; his parents, Dale and Reba Woodard, of Waycross; a sister, Carie Leigh Woodard, of Waycross; a half-sister, Chasti Glosson McBee, of Blackshear; a nephew, Hunter Dalton Woodard, of Waycross; three nieces, Camie Leigh Tillman, of Waycross, Haleigh McBee and Emalee McBee, both of Blackshear; his grandparents, Howard and Sylvia Woodard, of Waycross, and special grandfather, Jimmy Joyce; several aunts, uncles and cousins; special friend, Jason Thompson; many other special friends; and the Jamestown crew.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Jamestown Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening at Music Funeral Home from 6 until 8 o’clock.
Memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com

Wanda S. Mitchem
Wanda Smith Mitchem, 72, of Waycross, died Friday evening (Jan. 16, 2015) at Baptist Village Retirement Communities after an extended illness.
She was born in Waycross to the late Archie Frank and Mary Aline Carver Smith and lived here most of her life. She was a licensed practical nurse and worked at Satilla Regional Medical Center, Satilla Care Center and Care One Visiting Nurses. She was of the Baptist faith and loved to rescue animals, especially dogs, cat and birds.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond Michael Smith and Gary Travis Smith, one sister, Vernell Boatright.
Survivors include one daughter, Alethea Walker-Taylor (husband, Scott), of Alma; two granddaughters, Devan Walker Thrift (husband, Danny Jr.), of Millwood, Maisy Divine Taylor, of Alma; two great-grandchildren, Danny Thrift III and Dansley Thrift; one sister, Theda Smith Lee (husband, Michael), of Waycross; three nieces, Sherry Boatright Henderson (husband, Carl), of Mershon, Rosanne Boatright Thornton, of Blackshear, Abby Boatright Walker, of Blackshear; great-nieces and great-nephews, James Allen “Skipper” Davis, Hannah Boatright (husband, Doug), and their daughter, Kaleigh Brooke, Joseph Ryan Thornton, Peyton Walker; special friend, Dorothy Benton, of Yulee, Fla.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Greenlawn Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southeast Cancer Unit, 410 Pendleton St., Waycross, Ga. 31501 or to the Okefenokee Humane Society, 1501 Blackwell St., Waycross, Ga. 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Lilla C. Burkhalter
Lilla Charline Burkhalter, 63, died Monday (Jan. 12, 2015) at her residence in Jacksonville, Fla. following an extended illness.
She was born in Pearson, but lived in Jacksonville the past 15 years. She was a former store clerk at convenience stores around the area.
She was a daughter of the late Charles Bath and Margaret Giddens Bath. She was preceded in death by a son, Danny Daly.
She is survived by a daughter, Angela Varnadore (husband, Chester), of Waycross; two sons, James Daly (wife, Dorinda), of Washington, and John Daly, of Waycross; eight grandchildren, Harley Varnadore, Charlie Varnadore, Adam Daly (wife, Arlette), Kristiana Daly, Aaron Daly, Johnathon Daly, Christian Daly and Amber Padgett; three great-grandchildren, Micah Rae Daly, Evelyn Daly and Jeffrey Padgett; and a brother, Johnny White (wife, Anna), of Port Orange, Fla.
A private memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 24, 2015) at the home of Chet and Angie Varnadore.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
Music Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com

Dr. John Carden Jr.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dr. John Huckaby Carden Jr., 86, of Blackshear, passed away Wednesday morning (Jan. 14, 2015) at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.
Born in Dawson, March 29, 1928, he lived in Pierce County for the past 54 years. At the young age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and was involved in the last year of World War II. After his time in the military he attended college at South Georgia College in Douglas and from there to dental school at Emory University in Atlanta.
After finishing dental school in 1960, he moved to Blackshear to begin his dentistry career which he practiced for 53 years. Dr. Carden was a long-time member of Blackshear First Baptist Church and was a past-president of the Blackshear Rotary Club. He enjoyed restoring old cars and was excellent at woodworking.
He was the son of the late John Huckaby Carden Sr. and Hazel Youmans Carden. He was also preceded in death by both of his sisters, Margie Sneeden and Vicky Gove.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Rhys Jones, of Kennesaw; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Monnie and Wilda Carden, of Barnwell, S.C., John H. “Tripp” Carden III, of Eustis, Fla., and Ty and Denise Carden, of Blackshear; six grandchildren, Matthew Carden, Sam Carden, T.J. and Tessa Carden, Lauren Harrelson, Abby Jones and Emily Jones; three great-grandchildren, Rylee Carden, Mary Kenlee Carden and Korlee Harrelson; a niece, Sharon and Richard Durham, of Columbia, S.C.; and several other relatives and friends; a special friend and extended family member, Curtis Golden, of Blackshear.
A memorial service was held Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Blackshear First Baptist Church with Dr. Bill Young officiating.
Memorialization was by cremation.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.pearsondial.com
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Billy Earl Hickson
BLACKSHEAR — The funeral for Billy Earl Hickson, 64, was held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Pearson-Dial Chapel.
Officiating was Pastor R.B. Gaskins.
Interment was in the Ephesus Cemetery in Appling County.
Active pallbearers were Shannon Strickland, Andy Cox, William Hayes, Andy Bryant, Dustin Bryant and Seth Bryant.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Martha H. Mason
A funeral for Martha Hopkins Mason was held Saturday afternoon at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barry Giddens officiating.
Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Brent Hopkins, William Hopkins, Donald Kean, Chip Beal, Jim Hull and Mark Smith.
Honorary pallbearer was Floyd Turk.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary M. Griffin
A funeral for Mary Emma Melton Griffin was held Saturday afternoon at Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bryan Gunter officiating.
Burial followed in High Bluff Cemetery.
Pallbearers were David Williams, Scott Griffin, Kevin Griffin, Kyler Harris, Seth Bryan and Austin Bryan.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

‘Meg’ Stebler
A Requiem Mass for Margaret Loraine “Meg” Stebler was held Saturday at noon at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Bob Cushing officiating.
Burial was in Greenlawn Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were Jeff Jorishie, Steve Altman, Justin Wentz, Kimitri Kartsonas and Tom Hayes.
Arrangements were with Music Funeral Home.

James Monroe Jacobs
BLACKSHEAR — The funeral for James Monroe Jacobs was held Sunday at Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Blackshear with Minister Thomas Lott officiating.
Several musical melodies were offered by Sallie McClendon at the piano with the church choir delivering several selections.
Ann Lott sang a solo, “Take me to the King,” with a tribute by Deacon Walt Lane.
Words of comfort were given by Minister Debra Taylor.
Active pallbearers included Freddie Anderson, Greg Howard, Darryl Pender, Dale Jacobs, Byron Bowen, Jeremy Carter, Derrick Pender, Dewayne Lott and Ricky Hyler.
Interment was at Shiloh Cemetery in Blackshear with military honors given by the Moody Air Force Base Honor Guard.
Jacobs Funeral Home of Blackshear was trusted with serving the family.